Flambeau



UNITE STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

JOHN A. MOOALL, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS.

FLAM BEAU.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 233,425, dated October 19, 1880.

Application filed July 15, 1880.

ing had to the accompanying drawings, and

to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a' part of this specification.

This invention has for its object to furnish a device to be used as a flambeau or torch in processions and on other occasions when lights and exhibitions of fire-works are desired.

7 It consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section. Fig. 2 is a "ertical section of a part made on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a plan. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on line or at, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a modification, and Fig. 6 is a crosssection on line 3 y, Fig. 2.

Heretofore in the construction of flambeaux or torches of the class to which this invention belongs there has been. employed a powderbox with an oil-chamber attached to its side, and having the wick-tube bent laterally from the oil-chamber over the top of powder-box and over the powdertpipe. There was also a blowpipe carried into the powder-chamber and iusertedin a central pipe, through which the powder was blown upward to the flame but the arrangement in such devices was attended with much danger when gun or other explosive powder was employed, owing to theclose pronimity of the flame to the top of the powderbox and to the body of the powder. In my device these dangers are obviated by reason of the construction of the'main casing with the oil-chamber, placed immediately above the powder-chamber, and having the central powder-tube carried through the oil-chamber, and in placing the flame at amueh greater distance from the body of the powder.

a represents a casing,which is supported on a handle or staff, I). 'The stafi may be made in jointed and separable sections, if desired,

(No model.)

so that it can be lengthened or shortened, as may be desired.

The casing to is divided by the horizontal partition a into upper and lower chambers, 11. a The upper chamber, 0 is designed to hold oil or other burning-fluid, which is drawn through the wick-tubes c, projecting from the upper side of the casing a. The oil-receptacle a can be filled through the opening closed by the plug a.

The series of wick-tubes e c are arranged around the central point of the top of the easing a, and have their tops or outer ends eonverged or inclined inward toward each other, so that the several wicks will throw their flames together and form a single flame. The three or more flames combined into one will give a much greater light than when all are burning but separately.

I have shown only three wick-tubes, as this is the most convenient number; but two or four, or even more, may be employed, if desired.

d is a tube, open at both ends, and is placed in the casing a, and is held in place by the partition a and the top a". It is hermetically soldered around where it passes through the partition a and the top 0. so that the fluid in the chamber a cannot leak out past it. The lower open end, d, of the tube at is carried nearly to, but does not quite touch, the bottom a of the chamber a in the casing a. The upper end, d of this time is carried through the top a at a point centrally between and equidistant from the wick-tubes c, and its open end (1 is about in the same horizontal plane with the outer ends of the wick-tubes.

e is a blow-pipe, which has its upper end in the chamber a while its other end is carried down through the bottom a into the staff I), and is bent outward through the side of said staff, and is provided with a mouth-piece, 6, arranged conveniently for theperson carrying the torch. The upper end, 0 of this pipe is closed, as shown. A short distance below the upper end, 6 there is attached an arm or tube, 6 which is carried through the side of, and is bent downward within, the tube 61. There is provided by this arrangement a small valvechamber, 0 in the upper end of the pipe e.

f is a valve seated in the pipe 0, just below ICC rit- 2. i.

the opening into the tube Its function is to prevent air being blown down the tube d, out through the tubes 0 and e, while it permits air to be blown through the tubes e and 5 e and out through the tube d. When tube e is blown into, the valve rises into the chamber e and opens the tube 0 When the blast of air is stopped the valve drops back onto its seat and closes the upper end of the tube e. g is a springclasp held by staples and loops to the side of the casing a, and is adapted to hold Roman candles orother similar fire-works. Itis open on one side, so that it will expand and hold candles and other articles of difi'erent r5 sizes.

In Fig. 5 is shown a short sleeve, h, which slides over and tits snugly on the upper end, d of the tube d. Its upper end, h. is flared outward, and has placed therein an inverted 2o conical-shaped plug, k so disposed as to provide a narrow space around it and between it and the flared li-p h. The plug h is supported in its position by short plugs h, secured there to, and leaning against or fastened to the 2 5 sides of the mouth k as shown.

The under portion of the casing a is. made hopper-shaped, as shown, so that the lower end oi the chamber a. is contracted nearly to the size of the lower end of the inner tube, d.

0 The chamber a is provided nearits upper end with an orifice closed by a removable plug, a through which the powder to be burned is put. Suitable wicks are provided and inserted in the wick-tubes c, and the chamber a is filled with oil or other suitable burning-fluid. Within the chamber a there is put any suitable powder designed to give increased flame or color to the light of the torch. The powder should be filled in till it rises above the lower 40 end 05' the inner tube, 01.

In the operation of the device the combined flames of the series of wicks in the tubes 0 give a brilliant light.

By blowing into the tube 6 the powder in the 5 chamber a will be forced upward through the tube at, and, entering the flame from the wicks, will give a light according to the kind of powder used. If gunp'owder be used the flame will be a sud-den flashing upto a great height, giving a beautiful and startling exhibition.

The valve f, the moment the blast of air is stopped, falls and closes the tube and prevents any sucking back of the current, and thereby obviates all possibility of accident by fire being drawn down the tube 01.

The attachment h is employed when it is desired to spread and increase the breadth of the flame. This attachment is also of great value when no powders. are used.

By gently blowing in the tube e the flame of the wicks can be spread laterally, greatly increasing its breadth and effect on the eye of the spectator.

A torch-casing constructed without a powder-chamber could have the pipes e and d united so as to form a single air-tube from the mouth-piece to the wicks; but such a construction could be used only for blowing air to spread the flame. This object is attained by the tubes constructed as shown, while additional to that result the throwing of the powder is secured when desired.

The staff or handle is made in sections, sleeved one upon the other, and o'nto'a flange on the lower end of the casing, as shown, so that the parts can be disconnected. for storing away when not in use or fior packing in sun-ail compass for transportation or other purposes.

Having thus described my invention, what ,I claim, and desire to secure: by Letters Pat feet, is-

1. A flambeau or torch composed: of the casing inclosing an oil chamsber at its upper ends and a powder-chamber beiow at its lower end, the central tube disposed with its lower end near to the lower end of the powder-chamher, and with its upper end extended through the oil-chamber, and having imsiopenl mouth arranged between and about our the same plane 0 with the mouths of the wick-tubes, the blowpipe furnished with a mouth-piece on its lower end and having its upper endcamried into the powder-chum her and connectedwimh the central tube, and the valve seated in the upper end 5 of the blow-pipe, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of thecasing provided with loops, and the candle-holder 9, provided with hooks and adapted to be attached to the [O0 loops on the side of the casing a, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination of the tube d and wicktubes with sleeve h, furnished: with a flaring mouth, h, and provided with the invented to 5 conical plug h, so disposed: as to provide a space surrounding it and between it andthe flaring sides of the sleeves, substantiallyas and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing ll no have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN A. MoGAiLL. Witnesses:

W. D. Drsmtow, J. M. HUGHES. 

